Hibiscus plant named: &#39;New Old Yella&#39;

ABSTRACT

A New and distinct cultivar of winter hardy  Hibiscus  plant named ‘New Old Yella’ is the result of a unique hybridization. This new and distinct cultivar is characterized primarily as to its novelty by its extreme cold hardiness to Zone 4, its large thick-textured, light yellow flowers and its “Maple-shaped” leaves with a green coloration, Compactness of about 3 feet, its vigorous and uniform growth habit and its floriferous nature from midsummer until frost.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This plant, as a hybridized hardy Hibiscus, is valuable to the landscapemarket for its improvements in thicker textured and luminescent yellowcolored flowers and buds, refined “maple-like” foliage with a soft greencolor, its all-around vigor, compact breaking action, and adaptation toextreme environments, including the ability to consistently survivewinter temperatures of at least −30 degrees Fahrenheit.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The new plant of this invention is the result of a unique hybridization,with the breeding achievement being evidenced in the outstandingcombination of characteristics exhibited by this new and distinctHibiscus plant, which include:

(a) Small refined, 3-5 lobed ‘maple-shaped’ leaves with a green colorand relatively smooth margins which combined compliments the landscape;

(b) Medium-sized flowers that are outstanding for their luminescentyellow colored, thick textured petals;

(c) The plant being very floriferous with flowers that stay open for atleast one full day, sometimes up to 2 days;

(d) The plant being small to medium-sized but vigorous with compact anduniform breaking action which gives it unique landscape utility; and

(e) The plant being so hardy that it can consistently withstand wintertemperatures of at least −30 degrees Fahrenheit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘New Old Yella’ was the result of a 50-year breeding program. Itsancestry includes Hibiscus moscheutos and Hibiscus coccineus. Morespecifically, the plant resulted from multiple crossings with anunnamed, Flemings Flower Field-bred Hibiscus moscheutos (non patented)and an unnamed Flemings Flower Field-bred Hibiscus coccineus (nonpatented). The seedling which most nearly met all of the above standardswas selected.

This new plant first bloomed in the summer of 2001 and was selected byGretchen Zwetzig on her property located at 8101 S. 14th St. Lincoln,Nebr. 68516. Asexual propagation of the plant by cuttings and rootdivision in Lincoln, Nebr. has shown that the unique and distinguishingfeatures of the plant are faithfully transmitted from generation togeneration and appear to be fixed.

Since its origin, the plant has bloomed from midsummer until frost,while exhibiting the aforementioned distinctive characteristics. Thishardy Hibiscus plant greatly contributes to the market with its, sheerbeauty and utter refinement, its compact growth habit, its enhancedresistance to disease and insects, its stability through extremes inrain and drought, and its extreme hardiness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The flower and foliage of the cultivar are shown at 2½ years in theattached photographs. More specifically, Drawing 1 is a close-up of theflower and the leaf.

The colors are as true as is reasonably possible to attain inphotographic illustrations of this type. The colors illustrated may beslightly off due to light reflectance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

What follows is a detailed description of the new cultivar. The specificcolor descriptions are in accordance with The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, while general color recitations are consistentwith ordinary American terminology.

‘New Old Yella’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. It is to be understood that the phenotype may varysignificantly with variations in the environment such as temperature,light intensity, humidity, and day length without, however anydifference in genotype of the plant. The following botanicalcharacteristics and observations are gathered from the plant when grownin Lincoln, Nebr. (USDA Zone 4) and Lindsay, Calif. (USDA Zone 9).

-   The plant:    -   -   Parentage.—Seed Parent: Hibiscus moscheutos, unnamed and            unpatented Flemings Flower Field-bred seedling. Pollen            Parent: Hibiscus coccineus, unnamed and unpatented Flemings            Flower Field-bred seedling.        -   Comparison between observed plant and parents.—Observed            Plant is 2½ foot shorter than parents and has a darker            yellow flower.        -   Comparison between observed plant and other known            cultivars.—Observed Plant is unique, but most similar to            Co-Patent ‘Old Yella’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,630 and the            other patented Flemings Flower Fields hardy Hibiscus in            that: (a) They are all compact at approximately 3 feet on            average. (b) They are hardy to −30 degrees Fahrenheit. (c)            They all have refined new leaf shapes and colors. (d) They            all have thick, new flowers with new colors that bloom from            the top to the bottom of the plant.        -   Origin.—A selected seedling from stated cross.        -   Type of plant.—hardy, herbaceous perennial.        -   Classification.—Variety of hardy Hibiscus plant.        -   Propagation.—Relatively easy to propagate by cuttings in            approximately 2 weeks; holds its distinguishing            characteristics through successive cuttings and divisions.        -   Size.—About 2½-3 feet tall and about 2 feet wide.        -   Form.—symmetrical annual growth from perennial roots.        -   Habit.—Upright and uniformly branched.        -   Growth.—Vigorous; medium and compact. Full grown (2½-3 ft)            in 2 years.        -   Hardiness.—Hardy to at least −30 degrees Fahrenheit.        -   General health.—Plant is very disease resistant against rot,            aphids, spider mites, scale, white fly etc.; sturdy through            excessive drought, rain or wind.        -   Foliage.—1. Arrangement: Alternate. 2. Shape: Juvenile: 3-5            lobed “maple-shaped” leaves. Rounded base shape. Mature:            Refined, “maple-shaped”, 3-5 lobed leaf with entire to            mildly serrate margins and acute apices; rounded base. 3.            Size: Mature leaf (petiole base to apex): Length is about 4            inches or (10 cm), width is about 5 inches or (12.5 cm). 4.            Color: Young leaves (upper side): 137-A and 137-B. Mature            leaves: (upper side): 147 A. Veins: 61-A. Venation pattern:            Palmate. Coloration of the lower leaf surface: Closest to; a            little lighter than 146 B. 5. Surface texture: Low sheen.            Upper: Smooth. Lower: Semi-smooth. 6. Petiole length: About            2¾ inches or 6.5 cm. Petiole diameter: 2 cm. 7. Petiole            color: 146 B.        -   Stems.—The stems are stout at the base, becoming more            slender toward the apices; coloration is consistent with the            petiole. Length: 2-3 inches on average. Diameter: 2 cm.            Internode length: 2 inches on average. Stem texture:            Semi-smooth. Stem color: 147 B.        -   Blooming period.—Profuse from June/July until frost,            depending on South/North U.S.        -   Flower diameter.—Medium; about 8-9 inches (21.5 cm).        -   Borne.—Singly in the leaf axils, from midpoint of stems            upward.        -   Bloom duration.—Individual bloom lasts at least one full            day; possibly up to 2 days.        -   Form.—Campanulate; petals are also very overlapping.        -   Average number of flowers per season.—Approximately 300.        -   Bud.—1. Length: About 1¾ inches or (4.5 cm) on day before            opening. Diameter: 1-2 inches. 2. Color: 2-C. 3. Surface            texture: Semi-glabrous. 4. Duration: One to two weeks.        -   Corolla.—Having five petals. 1. Petal character and            dimensions: Campanulate and very overlapping. (a) Length:            About 3¾ inches or (9.5 cm). (b) Width: About 4½ inches or            (11.5 cm). 2. Coloration: Light yellow. (a) Light yellow            petals: 2-D and 11-D. Coloration of lower petal surface:            11-D. (b) Venation in petals: A little darker than 11-D. (c)            Eye zone: 45-B. Size: 1½ inches or (3.8 cm) 3. Texture:            Smooth. 4. Substance: Thick. 5. Shape: Campanulate and very            overlapping.        -   Reproductive organs.—1. Staminal column: Stamen along basal            two-thirds. Staminal length: About 1½ inches or (3.8 cm).            Stamen color: 2-D. Pollen color: 12-B. 2. Style: Terminates            upper one-third of staminal column. Stigmatic lobe color:            11-A.        -   Calyx.—Connate at the base; about 2½ inches or (6 cm) in            length. Color: Between 146-A and 146-B.        -   Stipules.—None. Epicalyx: Whorl of bracts. 1. Shape: 10-12            slender, sword-shaped bractlets. 2. Length: About 1¼ inches            or (4.8 cm). 3. Color: 143-A. Penduncle: 1. Length: About 1½            inches or (5 cm). 2. Strength: Stiff and sturdy. 3. Color:            Light to medium green with slight reddish-purple cast. 146-A            with 61-C.        -   Seeds.—Size: 1 cm. Color: Grey-brown. Average number: Less            than 100.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of hardy Hibiscus plant, as herein shownand described, characterized by its compact nature, refined “maple-like”foliage of a green coloration, its large glowing light yellow flowers,its vigor and its hardiness.